Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-15
OUR DEFENsELEsS FORTS.
The Capture of Charleston Would
be an Easy Job.

NC ah A1hSy OOUs
From the Charlestoa IS. O. Macs and Courier.
The recent ripple on the fishing banks
and the consequent warlike dem0nstra-
ton on the floor of the Senate and House
Of Representatives of the United States,
as well as the tone OF the Canadian press,
have brought into considerable prOmi-
nence the subject of coast dalenses. The
navy OF the United States, it Is ad-
mitted, would be utterly pOwerless TO pro-
tect q dozen miles on our coast in the
event of a war with one of The etfete mon
| arches of the old wor d, or even with a
| hltb-rate, brOken-down State of our neigh
bors to the south OF us. In TACT, it is said
| that even tie Mexican Ea lie, which was so
| badly drubDed b. his youthful American
cousin a half century ago or 80. could
| put mosquito fleet in the field, aquati-
cally speaking, and obtain ample VEN
! geance Tor Z; Q ubuscO, Vera Cruz, Con-
| treras, Chapultepec and GarIta de Belen,
| by capturing halt dozen or more coast
cities while Congress was DE- batting bill
TO increase the navy, or to encourage the
manufacl ure OF steel guns.
| la view Of recent Developments. in
view or the fact that Canada has become
the refuge OF most OF the bank cashiers,
bank presidents, railroad treasurers and
other persons occupying tiduciary places
| ID the United States, and in view of the
| further fact that there is a dispute pend
ing i'll reference TO the respective rights
OF the two countries to fish for bait some
where off the coast OF Maine, the subject
OF coast defenses becomes an important
! one to Charleston as well as to the other
| citieSon the Atlantic and Gulf coast,
The garrison of Charleston consists at
present OF two veterans of the United
States army, one stationed at Fort Sum-
ter and one at Fort Moultrie, and the
| Fourth Brigade OF State volunteer troops !;
and yet, in the event of a war, the enemy
might find it not as easy to enter the port
as might at first be supposed. The only
entrance TO the harbor by sea ie through
| a narrow channel which runs between
| Fort Sumter and Sulllvan's Island, and
this could be blOokaded with torpedoes
before feet of gUnboats could reach the
bar.
All of the forts which guarded the en-
trance TO Charleston, and for four years
kept the navy of the United States, in.
Guiding the IrOnsides, out, have been dis.
mantled, except the two historic for
| tresses, Sumter and Moultrie. These at
present constitute the sole defense of the
port. Fort Moultrie was built by the
state some hundred years ago or more,
| ana was originally constructed of pal
mettO logs. IL kept Sir. Peter Parker's
fleet out of Charleston ora certain mem
| Orable occasion. Since then the fort has
been rebuilt of brick. The fort is now in
good condition, although it's armament is
not effective. A half dozen large guns
mounted on the parapet, and three or four
/ mortars on the parade ground are all the
arms available. A number OF spherical
| shot piled up on the parade ground in the
rear of the tort would be of comparatively
little use in these days of steel rifles and
| cOnical shot.
AT Fort sumter there are about a dozen
| or more heavy guns mounted en- barbette
but no ammunition. The guns were
paced there by the Confederate forces
during the late war,and were at that time
considered heavy ordnance. Most Of
them are 2U0-pound Parrots. They
could hardly be available in the event
OF war and the absence OF an arsenal
The walls Of the fort facing the sea anC
Sulliyan's Island are In good condition,
/ one tier of classmates being available. In
| Maj. Anderson's time there were two tiers
| OF classmates, but subsequent cIrcum-
! stances forced the abandonment of the up
| per tier. The walls facing Morris Island
were almost entirely destroyed. anC
are now in completely delenseless con.
| dition.
| There is absolutely no effective arma
| ment In the TWO forts, and an enterpris
| ing fleet OF Canadian ironclads or South
| American war ships, III they arrived early
Al the bar, would meet with little oppo
| sltioD as far as ordnance is concerned
! still, the American people are progress
| i've when thrown upon their own re
| sources, and, with little assistance from
| Uncle Sam, there Is scarcely doubt tina
/ Charleston could manage to keep tn,
enemy at bay, at least until reinforce
menIs from Edge6eld and other points
could reach us.